Plastic material ski structure

ABSTRACT

A ski structure having upper and lower spaced ski surface layers and an intermediate foamed plastic core, steel ski edges and a ski tip protector adjoining the leading ends of the ski edges, a laminated glass insert positioned in the forward end of the ski so as to overlap the region of juncture between the ski tip and edges and being connected to at least the ski tip protector so as to form a reinforcing structure at the region of juncture while concurrently providing a retainer for the ski tip protector.

United States Patent 1111 3,814,452 Arnsteiner 1 June 4, 1974 [54] PLASTIC MATERIAL SKI STRUCTURE FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 1 lnvemori Anton Amsteinel'; A-5730 Mittersill 261,458 4/1968 Austria 280 11.13 T Klaus n 3, Aust a 2.054052 5/1971 Germany 280/1 1.13 1. Filed Jan 17 1973 450,250 4/l968 Switzerland 280/l 1.13 T

[21] Appl. No.: 324,449 Primary ExaminerDavid Schonberg Assistant ExaminerMilton L. Smith [30] Foreign Application Priority Data Attorney, Agent, or FirmWaters, Roditi, Schwartz &

. Nissen Jan. 18, I972 Austna 410/72 Apr. I7, 1972 Austrla 3353/72 ABSTRACT 52 us. (:1 2s0/11.13 L, 280/] 1.13 T A Ski Structure having pp and lower spaced ski [51] Int. Cl. A63c 5/12 layers and an intermediate foamed Plastic Core, 5 Field ofseal-chm280/1L13 T, 11.13 L, 11 13 E, steel ski edges and a ski tIp protector adjoining the 2 3 5 1 3 v 3 N 1 1 leading ends of the sk1 edges, a laminated glass insert 1H3 Q, 1 L13 F, 3 9/310 A, 3 0 13, positioned in the forward end of the ski so as to over- 310 C, 310 D, 310 E, 310 R lap the region of juncture between the ski tip and edges and being connected to at least the ski tip pro- 5 References Cited tector so as to form a reinforcing structure at the re- UNITED STATES PATENTS gion of juncture while concurrently providing a retainer for the ski tip protector. 2581.532 1/1952 Hem 2110/1113 L 3,542,388 11/1970 Veneko 280 1 1.13 L 6 Clalms, 4 Drawing Figures PLASTIC MATERIAL SKI STRUCTURE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a ski formed of a synthetic resinuous or plastic material and, more particularly, to a ski having upper and lower spaced surface layers encompassing an intermediate foamed plastic material core, including steel side edges and a ski tip protective member which contacts the steel edges.

DISCUSSION OF THE PRIOR ART Recently, numerous attempts have been made to improve the connection between the ski tip protective member and the ski, the latter of which essentially comprises a foamed plastic material. Consequently, upon hard impact of the ski tip during use, the tip protecting member is not readily or easily loosened or possibly entirely torn off. However, the foregoing attempts and developments have led to the drawback in that, during extreme impact loads occurring in the connecting or contact regions between the ski edges and the tip protecting member, extremely high bending stress concentrations are generated in the ski so as to create the danger of fracture or ski failure at those regions of stress concentration.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In accordance with the present invention, the disadvantages encountered in the prior art such as, for example, the tendency of the ski fracturing in the region forming the connection between the ski steel edges and the ski tip protecting member is largely eliminated by providing, intermediate the upper and lower ski surface layers and extending parallel relative thereto, an intermediate layer or insert spanning or traversing the contact points or regions between the ski tip protecting member and the steel edges along the longitudinal direction of the ski. The intermediate insert preferably is formed of a laminated glass material which is dimensioned about its length and width so as to approximate the dimensions of forward end portion of the ski, commonly known as the ski shovel or head segment.

Pursuant to the invention, the intermediate laminated glass insert has excellent binding properties with respect to the material of the foamed plastic ski core, in particular, when the core is formed of polyurethane, the latter of which is frequently employed in ski structures. The intermediate laminated glass insert may, accordingly, be adhesively fastened at one surface thereof with the lower ski surface layer so as to be connected, in this instance, only through one surface thereof with the foamed core material; or alternatively, the insert may be completely immersed into the foamed core.

In the last mentioned case, the lower surface of the intermediate laminated glass insert may be provided with suitable projecting members or pins which are adapted to define precisely spaced distance internally of the ski between the lower ski surface layer and the insert. In order to prevent the inadvertent slipping out of the intermediate laminated glass insert from the upwardly inclined leading end or shovel portion of the ski, prior to the filling the interior of the latter with the foamable core material mixture between the upper and lower ski surface layers, it becomes necessary that the intermediate insert be connected to the lower ski surface layer by means of a suitable lower distance retainer which is provided with a number projecting members.

In the first mentioned case, the fastening of the insert to the lower ski surface layer by means of an adhesive necessitates an additional manufacturing process step. Thus, the laminated glass insert must have a surface thereof covered with an adhesive prior to assembly with the other ski component, and the surplusage or protruding edges of adhesive material must then be re-.

moved by means of grinding or polishing and the like. Similarly, the laminated glass may be fastened or bonded shortly preceding the foaming of the core material. However, this presents the danger that the adhesive coating may be loosened, displaced or altogether removed together with the core foam material. In the second mentioned case, in effect using pointed spacer pins, this presents the risk of the pins punching through the covering material or lower ski surface layer, thereby causing damage to the bottom running surface of the ski. Furthennore, through utilization of the pointedpins, a rigid adherence of the ski tip components during the foaming process of the core material cannot be accurately attained.

Consequently, it becomes extremely advantageous to make provision for the mounting or securing of the ski tip components and intermediate insert during the foaming and the hardening of the ski core material, in which the ski tip protecting member is formed with an inwardly projecting peripheral flange having a plurality of spaced projecting pins and apertures adapted to respectively engage complementary projections or apertures provided on or in the intermediate laminated glass insert so as to secure the flange and insert together during the ski manufacturing process.

Accordingly, a particular feature of the inventive ski construction lies in that the ski tip protecting member includes an inwardly projecting flange which is adapted to be clamped together with the intermediate laminated glass insert, in which the flange is more securely fastened than previous attachment to the core portion of the ski, and further provides for a considerably improved degree of retention and support for the ski tip protecting member during use of the ski. The connection between the flange and the intermediate insert may be limited to a few particular connecting points, through which there is primarily provided a restraint against the inadvertent displacement of the insert parallel to and in the longitudinal lengthwise direction of the upper ski surface layer, while the elevation of the intermediate insert is, in effect, defined by spacer members relative to the ski surface layers.

Preferably, the spacer members may be constituted of the projecting portions or pins which are located on and project from the horizontally extending flange of the ski tip protecting member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING member and intermediate insert, with the upper ski surface layer removed; and

FIG. 4 is a sectional view through a ski tip portion incorporated in a ski construction according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION The upper and lower ski surface layers 10, 8 may each be formed of a plurality of individual layers or laminates wherein, in particular, the lower ski surface 8 may consist of a supporting lower strap portion which includes an inherent ski running surface covering layer.

The side edges of the ski in the region of the tip portion thereof are covered by an encompassing ski tip protector 11 which has an essentially T-shaped configuration in cross-section, and in which the web portion of the T-shaped protector 11 forms a substantially horizontal inwardly extending flange adapted to extend between the upper and lower ski surface layers 10 and 8. The flange extends along the inner periphery of the ski tip protector 11. F urthermore,.the flange portion of the ski tip protector 11 includes a plurality of spaced projections or pins 3, preferably having flat-bottomed free end constructions, and a plurality of apertures 2 so as to be adapted to be rigidly connected to or anchored within the core 9. During extreme loads imparted to the ski during use, such as impact loads, the region of the ski defining impact regions or points, particularly at the extreme ends of the ski tip protector II where the latter contacts or adjoins the leading ends of the ski steel side edges 7, the ski is endangered by being subject to extremely high bending stress concentrations which may cause ski fracture and failure. In order to protect these particular regions of the ski, an intermediate layer or insert 4 formed of a laminated glass structure or plate is positioned within the ski, with the insert extending to the point of the ski and corresponding in length and width essentially to the dimensions of the leading end or shovel portion of the ski, while extending rearwardly along the forward portion of the ski so as to overlap and traverse the region of juncture between the ski tip protector ll and the steel ski edges 7.

The insert or layer 4 is provided, adjacent its leading or tip end, with two through-apertures 5, and is furthermore provided with flat-ended projecting studs or rods 6. The apertures 5 allow the insert 4 to be positioned onto the spacer pins 3 of the flange through simple engagement therewith. This engagement provides for the secure positioning of the insert or layer within the ski during the foaming of the core material, so as to prevent the former from floating outwardly. Furthermore, the intermediate insert or layer 4 also affords security against the inadvertent displacement or pulling off the ski tip protector 11 from the foamed plastic material core. Consequently, two dually effective reinforcing structures are obtained, firstly, protection against fracture of the ski at the region of juncture between the ski edges and the ski tip protecting member and, secondly,

' the securing of the ski tip protecting member within and to the plastic foam material of the ski core.

While there has been shown what is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be obvious that modifications may be made which come within the scope of the disclosure of the specification.

What I claim is: 1 h 1. Ski formed substantially of a synthetic resinous material, comprising an upper surface layer; a lower surface layer in spaced relationship with said upper surface layer; a foamed core material being interposed between said layers; steel edge means adjoining the edges of said layers and extending along thesides of said ski; protective means extending along the sides of said ski; protective means extending about the tip of said ski having free ends contacting the forward ends of said steel edge means; and an intermediate layer formed of a laminated glass material being interposed between and extending parallel to said upper and lower surface layers in the longitudinal direction of said ski, said intermediate layer extending through the region of juncture between said'tip protective means and said steel edge means and substantially approximating the length and width dimensions of at least the forward portion of said ski.

2. Ski as claimed in'claim 1, comprising projecting pins depending from the lower surface of said intermediate layer, said projecting pins having lower ends adapted to adhere to said lower layer.

3. Ski as claimed in claim 1, said tip protective means having an intermediate peripheral flange portion extending inwardly of said ski between said spaced upper and lower ski surface layers; and projecting flat-ended projecting spacer means on said intermediate layer extending toward, respectively, said upper and lower layers, so as to maintain said intermediate layer in coplanar alignment with said flange portion.

4. Ski as claimed in claim 3, said flange portion extending into said foamable core material, said flange portion including projecting members extending through apertures in said intermediate layer.

5. Ski as claimed in claim 3, said flange portion extending into said foamable core material, said intermediate layer including projecting members extending through apertures in said flange portion.

6. Ski as claimed in-claim 4, at least some of said projecting members on said flange portion forming a 

1. Ski formed substantially of a synthetic resinous material, comprising an upper surface layer; a lower surface layer in spaced relationship with said upper surface layer; a foamed core material being interposed between said layers; steel edge means adjoining the edges of said layers and extending along the sides of said ski; protective means extending along the sides of said ski; protective means extending about the tip of said ski having free ends contacting the forward ends of said stEel edge means; and an intermediate layer formed of a laminated glass material being interposed between and extending parallel to said upper and lower surface layers in the longitudinal direction of said ski, said intermediate layer extending through the region of juncture between said tip protective means and said steel edge means and substantially approximating the length and width dimensions of at least the forward portion of said ski.
 2. Ski as claimed in claim 1, comprising projecting pins depending from the lower surface of said intermediate layer, said projecting pins having lower ends adapted to adhere to said lower layer.
 3. Ski as claimed in claim 1, said tip protective means having an intermediate peripheral flange portion extending inwardly of said ski between said spaced upper and lower ski surface layers; and projecting flat-ended projecting spacer means on said intermediate layer extending toward, respectively, said upper and lower layers, so as to maintain said intermediate layer in coplanar alignment with said flange portion.
 4. Ski as claimed in claim 3, said flange portion extending into said foamable core material, said flange portion including projecting members extending through apertures in said intermediate layer.
 5. Ski as claimed in claim 3, said flange portion extending into said foamable core material, said intermediate layer including projecting members extending through apertures in said flange portion.
 6. Ski as claimed in claim 4, at least some of said projecting members on said flange portion forming a spacer relative to said upper ski surface layer. 